A former University police chief sued the University and UT System on Friday in federal court, alleging they fired her because of her sex and national origin.
Eve Stephens, who was UTPD Chief of Police from July 2023 to September 2024, oversaw the UTPD response to the April 2024 pro-Palestinian protests. Stephens was also the first Asian-American woman to lead any UT System police department, according to the complaint.
Stephens is seeking a judgment declaring that the practices detailed in the complaint violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, sex, religion and national origin. Additionally, Stephens is seeking reinstatement, backpay and supervisory discipline, including possible termination, for any supervisor engaging in discrimination or retaliation.
A University spokesperson said the University will respond to the lawsuit in its court filing. UTPD did not respond to requests for comment.
The complaint alleges that Amanda Cochran-McCall, vice president for Legal Affairs, was “openly and outwardly critical” towards Stephens and other female employees. Cochran-McCall sometimes raised her voice or argued with female officers, but was not observed treating male officers in the same way, according to the lawsuit. Following an administrative change in January 2024, UTPD began reporting to the Office of Legal Affairs, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit claims Stephens was fired weeks after receiving a positive performance review. In the complaint, Stephens alleges she was pushed out during a Zoom meeting with Cochran-McCall. Cochran-McCall offered Stephens the option to resign immediately, be terminated or spend two months as a special advisor to the Vice President of Legal Affairs, which Stephens chose. Stephens was not given a reason for her termination, the lawsuit stated.
The lawsuit alleges Cochran-McCall also terminated another high-ranking Asian-American woman employee the same day as Stephens. The employee was informed after also receiving a positive performance review and was not given a reason, according to the complaint.
Shortly after Stephens’ forced resignation, she was replaced by then Assistant Chief Shane Streepy, according to the complaint. The complaint claims Streepy was unqualified because he did not serve five or more years in a high-ranking position, a requirement for UTPD Chiefs, according to the lawsuit.
“(Stephens was) the first Chief replaced by an unqualified, hand-picked white male successor who never applied for the job,” the complaint states. “And the first Chief whose firing was followed by a coordinated purge of female employees from the department.”
Stephens said she worked to ensure hiring, promotion and compensation decisions were “based on merit,” according to the complaint. The complaint alleges female UTPD officers were “grossly underrepresented” in the department, and Stephens worked to increase their hiring and promotion during her tenure.
In 2021, women made up 13.6% of all UTPD sworn personnel and 20% of leadership personnel according to the most recent demographic data.
The lawsuit said Chief Streepy commented about Stephens’ firing to female UTPD officers, with the implication that “if they could fire the Chief, they could fire anyone.” At least five other female UTPD employees were fired or pushed out since Stephens’ firing, two of whom were the last remaining Asian-American female employees in the department’s leadership, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit does not state the number of male employees fired.
“I believe the Complaint speaks for itself,” wrote Melissa Holman, the attorney representing Stephens, in an email. “Chief Stephens and I look forward to pursuing justice in this matter.”
